Happy Woden’s (Odin’s) Day!!!
Just a short post wishing you all happy holidays. I spent most of my morning with some of my children and grandchildren for Christmas, so this is a short post to let you all know that you are appreciated. Thanks for reading and have a great holiday season!
Back tomorrow with another fiction post.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day!
Discussion:
Disclaimer: The topics covered in Freya’s Chambers include serious discussions of sex, sexuality and related issues. If it isn’t your thing; you can move along, otherwise enjoy and feel free to discuss. Given the nature of some subjects be prepared for nude images as there may be some. I avoid genitalia as a general rule but is not always possible.
As I head into the holiday season, I am a little more pressed for time these days so my more serious discussions here in Freya’s Chambers are going to give way to a more lighthearted look at sex and sexuality with the festive nature of the holiday.
I will probably do a more serious discussion of Playboy as both a shaper of sexual discussion and Hugh Hefner’s legacy someday. I mean it had a lot of influence on my thoughts as a teen and young adult male. In truth though probably the magazine gets its props for 1) Gorgeous women in the buff, 2) Some interviews that were groundbreaking and 3) Its art including the cartoons which made a lighthearted jab at sexual mores, sexual culture, and hypocrisy. For me the cartoons were not just entertainment, they had a message of pointing out how traditional views on sexuality were not normal but forced. Humor has a way of doing that.
Of course, culture changes so at first playboy cartoons poked at the notion that everyone was celibate and waiting for marriage for sex. The sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s was largely spawned by effective birth control and if I may be very bold magazines like Playboy who made fun of the notion that women, in particular, were sweet innocent things that just wanted a good husband when it came to sex. As research came in, it became clear that women liked to fuck just as much as men. The only difference was they had to worry about pregnancy and stigma more.
Cartoons back then were an avenue of using humor to point this out and Playboy’s cartoons were legendary for doing just that. One of the ideas was that women didn’t need as much coxing to engage in casual sex as people thought and that their appetite was not as high as men. Playboy tried to shatter that with a lot of forms but their cartoons often had women having sexual desire and the guy was about to get a gift from them – a sexual encounter with them.
During Christmas, of course, this idea of gifts and traditions was employed as a central theme and the idea of women presenting themselves as gifts to men is present, I am fairly sure I remember Hugh himself saying in response to the early politically correct crowd that was critical of his objectification of women something to the effect of “women will always be objects of desire to men, that’s how babies are made” or something similar. I am not sure what his psychological knowledge was but he read every interview with every playmate and all of them pointed out what they wanted in a man and many of them engaged the sex questions with responses that would have caused a ‘good girl’ to blush.
The traditions becoming sexualized were often done with the idea that traditions were different in other countries and that often had sexual connotations. Santa Claus, the Christmas party and mistletoe being obvious choices as well. Playboy’s cartoons at Christmas were shall we say sexually festive. Santa being a horny man who gives another gift to the lonely woman is also one that has humor that was present.
Looking back at the playboys under my bed as a teen, I would say the Christmas ones were my favorite. Now I would say they were fond memories of the festive and fun part of the holidays that was sensual. There is playfully sexual side to this holiday and playboy through their cartoons saught to point that out.
My two cents.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Woden’s (Odin) Day!
This post is a little later than usual because I am doing a little bit of an experiment with it. In about a half-hour, my therapist and I will be meeting via Skype and we will be hopefully discussing some of my issues so what you are getting with this installment is The Grey and The Wayfarer ‘before and after’. So the part marked ‘Before’ is what I was thinking before I went into session and the part marked “After” is my thoughts as I reflected on them after the session. It has really been up and down these last two weeks so I need to talk about that.
Before:
The issues I want to discuss in this session are the main two of my marriage and identity. In the issue of my marriage, there are some things I need to discuss with my wife and my therapist is going to help me, according to our last session, as to how to approach this discussion as I am a little apprehensive of talking about the specific issues. It’s weird because this isn’t about sex or intimacy but more about common goals, vision and what are we going to do now. What are we now with our values shifting in different directions and the objective for our lives shifting.
The second issue of identity is one of trying to figure out what I am now that I am both an atheist and no longer a pastor. Part of this is career issues that my job coach is helping me with and I will talk on that at a different time. This is deeper than that. More of a foundational question. My hope is there will be some insight as the last two sessions have been more of me talking and her digesting things and coming to understand my situation. Hopefully, she has some wisdom, because right now I could use some and I am starting to feel confined and trapped by the situation. That’s before. See what happens and then I will write an after and then post both.
After:
Things worked as I think she guided my own thoughts into doing what needs to be done. I need to really think about a direct course of designing my life as far as what I am going to be while having options. My primary identity is being a writer, but it is going to be my second one which can be multiple things that will define me as far as other people are concerned for a while.
Also, we talked about Christmas and the family mostly. I just don’t want it to be drama, but I also have the task of telling people I don’t pray anymore over the meals. It’s more about celebrating the season of Yuletide and being with the kids and grandkids as much as possible. I am just there to enjoy, not be the spiritual master of ceremonies.
Of course, we talked about my marriage and all I will say about that is that a conversation between us needs to take place soon. No more there, as no one else needs to know yet what is going on. I just now have it very clear that before the new year my wife and I need to talk about some things. ‘Need’ being the keyword.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Saturn’s Day
I became interested in Norse mythology as a teenager. It was a combination of two factors.
Firstly, I played Dungeon’s and Dragons – 2nd edition. One of the realms I created as a Dungeon Master at the time was a Norse like realm with the Norse Pantheon in full power. My character from that realm was what would now be considered a Tempest Priest of Thor named Thane True-Blade. He had a brother Karic True-Blade who was a devoted follower of Tyr and a fighter. There was a female thief named Sylvia who was more or less devoted to Loki. You get the idea.
Secondly, there was the Marvel Comic world with Thor the comic book. No, I haven’t seen the movies. Reason? Because while the comics and D&D were instrumental in getting me involved in Norse mythology, I soon fell in far greater love with the actual mythology, than how it has been used or inspired other things.
I start each post on The Grey Wayfarer with “Happy Thor’s Day” or “Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day” This is an example of one of those inspirations. Our days of the week have four of them that are direct references to Norse gods and goddesses. It could be argued that Sunday and Monday are as well, but they are also generic references to the Sun and Moon. So we could be dealing with Apollo as much as Sunna/Sol and Luna as much as Mani, depending on which mythology you want to credit. But Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all have direct reference to Norse mythology.
It is these references along with many others in the western world that draw me to Norse Mythology, Christianity didn’t erase them all and in fact sometimes embraced them and made them their own. Our recent celebration to Christmas; for instance, is full of things that are borrowed and plan out stolen from Norse Yuletide. Those symbols had other meanings but Christianity has taken them and repackaged them for their own use. I find it however interesting what has survived and why.
Much of western culture and heritage is Norse and no, I don’t find that anything to be ashamed of. In fact, there is a lot to be said for the lessons that Norse Mythology were teaching to its people. Religion shows what cultures value and try to pass on and so studying Norse mythology can help us see what those values were and how they were taught generation after generation.
Unlike the atheist who does not see any value to religion, I don’t take that course. Religions develop for reasons and not all of them are about manipulation or control. Part of paganism for me is that there are ‘universal’ truths and principles that religion guards and promotes which benefit society and often at some point they are turned into religion or become part of a religion mostly in an effort to preserve them. Religion for years was also the place where science at a low-level and philosophy was created and preserved and part of that is mythology. Stories that illustrate those principles and truths. Stories that teach are the stock in trade of mythology and that is not always a bad thing.
There is also the simple fact the Norse Mythology has had tremendous impact on modern culture particularly pop culture involving fantasy writing and movies. Elves, dwarves, giants, etc. all owe their inspiration to Norse mythology. Comics, movies, art and many other things draw on Norse Mythology. My writing is definitely influenced by it and has for a long time. But I am not alone there – Tolkien, CS Lewis, Robert Jordan, and many others join me in that regard.
There is also the fact that I simply find the Vikings bad ass warriors and a lot of why they did what they did was their mythology. It is a mythology formed in the harsh realities of the ice, snow and cold of the North. I understand how these relate all to well having lived in the North of North America all my life. So I suppose there is a natural resonance with such mythology for me as that mythology of the Norseman provides a common ground. A spiritual connection based on a commonly understood environment, if you will.
My methods of approaching this are much less systematic as those of say Odin’s Eye or Of Wolves and Ravens. What I think I will find more beneficial is a topical rather than chronological methodology in Crossing Bifrost. Topic Headings will include, but are not limited to, the following.
The Norse World – Yggdrasil (The World Tree) and Its Realms – Asgard, Midgard, Hel, etc.
Norse Races and Creatures – Elves, Dwarves, Giants, etc.
Norse Gods and Goddesses – Odin, Freya, Thor, Frigg, Loki, etc. This would also include god monsters like Fenrir the Great Wolf and the World Serpent Jörmungandr.
Norse Symbols and Objects – Thor’s Hammer Mjolnir, The Valknut Symbol ,etc.
Norse Culture and History – Probably a little more difficult to define but topics here might involve how the Norse Mythology influence Viking Culture and History.
Basically I will probably have a sub page under Crossing Bifrost for each of these where appropriate and them probably follow an alphabetical listing on each sub page itself. The one requirement basically is that it has to relate in some way to Norse Mythology to be posted here.
Hope you enjoy my journey of discover on this subject. If you learn something along the way – well that is good too.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Wooden’s Day. It is also the 7th Night of Yuletide. This night is sacred to Thor and Children. There is an idea here of resurrection and renewal. The idea of continuation in this night with children being the future and Thor’s sacrificing his two goats with his hammer for food and then raising them back to life the next morning as part of the mythology. Thus the basis for the virtue of Fidelity, which is remembered tonight, which is continuation and legacy.
Journal Entry:
I guess the only thoughts worth considering this week were the continued questions of faith with the whole Christmas thing. It is very strange, in a getting used to it sense, to not be celebrating Christmas in the sense I used to celebrate it. That is celebrating the incarnation of Christ. I just don’t buy that anymore. So I move along with people wishing me Merry Christmas and me saying ‘Happy Holidays’ in return and not getting bent out of shape about it either way. There is a pagan part of me that wants to say ‘Blessed Yuletide’ back but perhaps this isn’t the time for me to do that yet. I have a lotto sort out yet regarding my faith.
The truth is though I want any holiday to be a time of community and family. So it is better not be an ass about it and move along given that most of my family is Christian including my wife. It was weird Christmas Eve as it was the first time in a long time that I wasn’t at a candlelight service. Instead I let my wife go alone and I stayed at home. I spent the time thinking and meditating on a few things.
The one thing I will probably be doing in between writing fiction is working on The Book of Rabyd. You can find an older incarnation of this book here: The Book of Rabyd. The design was a book of principles, wisdom and sayings of the family passed down through the years. I was reworking it on the Microphone. I am going to try to rework it again as it needs to be updated. It is the basis for the values of the family. It is also my legacy to my children and grandchildren.
The one thing though that starts today is the active seeking of a new job. Time for me to be about the Business Virtues and pursuing my goals.
Self-Reliance:
“Self Reliance is the spirit of independence, which is achieved not only for the individual, but also for the family, clan, tribe and nation.”
Principle: Work to be self-reliant in all things.
The issue as always is to be independent. To not be reliant on others for my life and lifestyle. This extends to my family as well, and that it is just my wife and I in practicality. The hope is to be debt free and prosperous to the point we don’t need anyone’s help to stand on or own two feet. So far so good, but more needs to be done for the future’s sake.
Industriousness:
“Industriousness is the willingness to work hard, always striving for efficiency, as a joyous activity in itself”
Principle: Work with enjoyment of work itself.
Funny thing is as much as I bitch about work with my fellow employees, I actually am starting to enjoy working for work sake. Now I just need to find something I enjoy doing as well for its sake and mine.
Hospitality:
“Hospitality is the willingness to share what one has with one’s fellows, especially when they are far from home.”
Principle: Be ready to be hospitable to those who truly need it.
You know, we are getting to the point where fiends over for dinner and a movie is not beyond the realm of possibility. if I only had some friends that were local. I hoping through a new job to find some. I just still have this problem of trusting people after being betrayed.
Daily Routine:
This new routine is working out better. I still think though that another change is in order in the writing department. That’s why I added the Writing part. Time to start working on that novel and perhaps my career as a writer.
Goals:
# 3 is front and center and # 6. Both I hope to get going very soon, Once Number 3 and 2 are finished I will consider myself on my way to my new chapter of my life. Goals: achieved since Summer 2018: 1
Budgeting:
I think the real reason we are following this is because both of us can agree to it. It will work we just need to up the income side of things.
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Tyr’s Day. It is also the 6th night of Yuletide. This night is sacred to the goddess Eir and Healing. Eir being one of the Valkyrie who was famous for her healing skills. I know today is December 25th and is sacred to all you Christians out there. It used to mean a lot to me in this regard as well. So Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. Today we pagans celebrate the virtue of Discipline mostly in regard to taking care of one’s self in regard to health.
Well, this will not be a normal Of Wolves and Ravens. As promised I am establishing a pattern for writing Of Wolves and Ravens. With a pattern I have a pretty good chance of being disciplined in writing it each week. I will be doing the same for Odin’s Eye and my New Series on Saturday on Norse Mythology. Haven’t come up with a unique title for that yet, but I will.
Topics I want to include here in Of Wolves and Ravens must meet the requirement of being a philosophical discussion. So included here is discussions of the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru, The three higher virtues – Love, Justice and Wisdom. Discussions on Minimalism and Libertarianism will here as well. I must say this would be a good place to discuss economics and political philosophy so that will be here as well as regular western and eastern philosophy. I think a ten week pattern is in order.
Week 1 – Nine Noble Virtues and The Higher Virtues
Week 2 – Honor and Eastern Philosophy
Week 3 – Courage and Western Philosophy
Week 4 – Truth and Love
Week 5 – Self Reliance and Minimalism
Week 6 – Industriousness and Economics
Week 7 – Hospitality and Justice
Week 8 – Discipline and Political Science
Week 9 – Perseverance and Libertarianism
Week 10 – Fidelity and Wisdom
I think this pattern will be a good one as it will keep me covering a lot of different topics and not getting stuck on too many. I will try to bring modern events and other things into the discussion as much as possible.
I want to change the nature of the Wolves and Ravens as far as Need, Want, Reason and Wisdom which will still appear at the end and make them more personal to myself. Taking the discussion about whatever topic is there for the week and putting it into practice personally is the goal at that point. This should keep me writing and more importantly changing for the better as I continue this journey I call my life.
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Sun’s Day. It is the 4th Night of Yule. This day is dedicated to the gods Freyr and Njord. It is about peace and having a good upcoming season. Tonight is about the virtue of love and the developing a sense of community. Compassion, forgiveness and mercy are all present in this night of Yuletide.
Announcements:
We don’t pray here – we figure God, the gods and goddesses, or whatever powers that be either know already, don’t give a fuck, or are busy with more important matters than our petty stuff. We also kind of assume that they expect us to do stuff that we can do for ourselves, and that we will do them ourselves and not be lazy. We also believe in being good friends, so we don’t presume on our friendship with the powers that be by asking them all the time for stuff while giving them nothing in return.
We also don’t take an offering here. We figure the powers that be probably don’t need it. Let’s be honest, offerings are not giving to the divine powers, they are given to an organization to support it. Just being honest. God, the gods or whatever never see a dime, farthing or peso of that money; it all goes to the church, mosque or shrine.
Opening Song: Halford – Get into the Spirit:
Halford is the lead singer for Judas Priest. I really like the fact that metal music can do this kind of thing. Do something different. Some of his takes on classic hymns at Christmas are superb.
Poem: “Yuletide Prayer” – Jenna
Meditation:
Just something personal I have noted in my life. I actually feel far less stress. I haven’t enjoyed the holidays like this in years. Just saying.
Song of Preparation: Pentatonix – Carol of the Bells:
What a great group these people are. I can’t say enough of how I have enjoyed Pentatonix over the years.
Text:
“Happy Holidays”
Sermon:
Just a short word today – Happy Holidays to all that come here and read my stuff. I trust you will find this holiday season full of peace, joy, hope and love. Enjoy the season and live life fully in the coming years.
Skaal!!!
Closing Song: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” – Lady Gaga and Joseph Gordon-Levitt:
You probably can tell where I stand on this controversy, This is clearly two people who have the hots for each other and there is this game they are playing back and forth. Seeing in this version Lady Gaga is playing the part of the person trying to convince the other to stay, is she trying to rape him? Sorry, the notion is ridiculous. both of these people want to go at it with each other. It’s not undo pressure, it’s actually cultural concern by what outsiders will think that is the issue.
Gods, I don’t know when Puritanism became politically correct, but it needs to be stopped. Let’s be honest this is got to be another example of political correctness being something we need to discard as the language and cultural fascism it is. Are we really going to get to the point where flirting and seduction is going to be considered rape itself?
Enjoy the holidays and keep warm with the one you love.
Parting Thought:
I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Thor’s Day. Also happy first day of Yuletide – Tonight is Mother’s Night which is a celebration to honor the goddesses Frigg, Freya and Disir. It marks the Winter Solstice eve. The official last day of the year in some Germanic and Celtic Traditions. Today we remind ourselves of the Virtues of Motherhood and Industriousness.
Introduction:
I had an awkward conversation at work about Christmas. Basically people wanted to do a secret Santa thing and to be honest I am way too broke for that right now. I basically said my religion is complicated. This post will drop on December 20th which is the first day of the twelve nights of Yule or Yuletide. This is a really complicated time for pagans in that different pagan traditions celebrate the end of the year in many ways. The Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian traditions all get mixed up here in the united States, but most of what you see as far a traditional ‘Christmas’ is actually Yuletide symbols and traditions from those pagan traditions, mixed with a story about a baby in Bethlehem and presto – Christmas.
That said this holiday had a long-standing tradition before Christianity arrived, which is about ultimately a Celebration of the Winter Solstice and the rebirth of the sun.
Faith:
My faith is complicated on this subject because to be quite honest one of the main reasons I say I am a pagan is so I can celebrate holidays with everyone else. I have no problem celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday at this time of the year along with Yuletide with the pagans. I look for the commonalities of faith in this holiday and in large part it is about final ending and starting the New Year. It is a season of hope and joy regardless of tradition and so that I can join in with my fellow humans and celebrate the end of the year and the rebirth of the new one.
Religion:
The pagan traditions that survive at this time of year are quite extensive, from decorating trees, to the yule log to Christmas carols. Kissing under the mistletoe is a favorite of mine. The resurrection theme in Christmas is just as prevalent in the idea of the resurrection of the sun only Christians will talk about the future resurrection of the son of God. Gift giving predates Christianity as does holly and even fruit cake,
I find the fact that the whole twelve days of Christmas thing is actually a response to the twelve nights of yule. The actual tradition is very complicated but I found a good web page on Nordic Wiccan about it called The 12 Nights of Yule. Next year I may do a series about this holiday marking each of the twelve days as I find the whole thing fascinating. I am kind of new to this pagan thing, so I am still learning and the more I learn the more I enjoy the mythology behind it all.
Theology:
I suppose the real powers that be don’t mind us humans celebrating that which makes humanity great even in the middle of the darkest time of the year. Us northerners have four seasons and it gets darker and darker and then as winter continues it gets lighter and lighter and eventually the sun’s rebirth will cause life to return to us in Spring. The idea of rebirth is an old theological concept and it isn’t just found in Christianity or Paganism. Nearly all religions have a concept of rebirth. This idea of hope in darkness and joy in the midst of darkness is pretty common too.
Spirituality:
I am not sure how I feel about Christmas as an X-Christian other than the story is nice. one of the things I may start doing is looking at certain Biblical stories and pointing out why they are problematic and the whole Nativity story is really problematic. I also think that on a human level I can learn spiritually from any faith that genuinely tries to celebrate spirit of joy and hope. It is a family holiday and a time to remember some important things. I guess I like the fact it is a time of celebration from a standpoint of Yule rather than a single day.
Conclusion:
I like Yule and I like the concepts it is trying to both teach and uphold. I think if I had more time I would have liked to dig deeper into this for this year, but it will just have to be a time of wonder, joy and peace for me this year. As I go through next year, part of what I will be doing is researching all this. As a writer of fiction, I smell a lot of potential stories in all this. A time to enjoy my family and life.
So I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Frigg and Freya’s Day
Journal Entry:
I someone would ask me how I feel right now, I would tell them tired but still strong. It’s my soul that is tired. probably because of the fact I just don’t quit. I do need this Yuletide time to be a time of rest and celebration. I need to be able to breathe for a bit.
My goal is strength of soul more than anything else when it comes to myself. My soul has been bruised, bleed out. battered, betrayed and a whole host of other things this past year. I suppose though the fact that it is still alive and standing is a testimony to my perseverance if nothing else. Of course some of those wounds were self-inflicted too so my soul, heart and mind have a lot of arguments these days. I do feel healing is something I am experiencing when I get the chance but it is not so much healing I need right now; but rather, to feel that my soul is getting stronger and stronger every day. That the blood that was drained from it is starting to return.
I know I am using a lot of metaphors, but in describing what I am trying to get across it is pretty much what I am left with. I suppose though if I do ever find my strength again of soul I will be stronger than before. If that which does not kill you makes you stronger, then by the holy powers I am going to be a lot stronger. A helluva lot stronger.
Discipline:
“Discipline is the willingness to be hard on oneself first and then if needed help with the development with others, so that greater purposes may be achieved.”
Principle: Apply discipline to every aspect of life that it can be applied.
The one thing I am glad for, because it has kept me sane and focused, is the various discipline I keep putting in my life. Some things might seem weird to discipline like making sure I cuddle/communicate with my wife for at least ten minutes a day when possible. Not something people normally see on a self-discipline routine of any type, but it is important to do given all that has happened. Making sure things are good on all fronts.
I am going to do one thing this break which is reassess everything on my routines and disciplines lists. Going over my goals, the bucket list and everything else will take priority as well. As we come to the end of the year, it important to be clear about what the objectives are for the next one.
Perseverance:
“Perseverance is the ability to stand up and return from defeat and failure”
Principle: Keep getting up after every defeat or failure.
Sometimes when I keep getting up from defeat and failure, I wonder if it is perseverance or stupidity. Part of my wants to say I have had enough and its time to throw in the towel. Unfortunately or fortunately, that isn’t part of my makeup. Quitting is never an option for me.
Fidelity:
“Fidelity is the will to be loyal to one’s Gods and Goddesses, to one’s Folk, to one’s self, and loyalty to one’s friends was as valued as highly as loyalty to one’s family.”
Principle: Be loyal to those who have been loyal to me.
I think, in the future I will benefit from the lessons of fidelity I have learned this year. My own weaknesses in it are still evident when it comes to faith and my marriage based on last years performance. That’s a fair and honest assessment. but out of that failure I have found a new understanding of fidelity. That is, I know if I am being true to what I feel about those relationships, than being loyal to them is not a problem.
I have also learned what kind of friends I want in my life because true colors were shown very quickly and I guess now I am much more cautious who I give my friendship to these days. I don’t want to be the kind of ‘friend’ that others were to me this past year. ‘Friends’ only when you can do something for them or your friendship makes them look good. Perhaps there is another lesson in keeping my circle small and tight here. Probably very likely.
Weekly Routine:
I miss weightlifting right now. I plan on joining a new gym on Monday and getting back at it, so I am hopeful that this part will start not only to keep my body strong but my soul as well. I need my mediation of iron. Walking may be the treadmill every day for a bit until the weather gets better and I can use the trials again. Cleaning is pretty consistent and it keeps my minimalist self from going nuts.
Nutrition:
So far the carb counting and cheat meal counting has worked. I haven’t gone over at any time. With that said, things are going to start to get more tight after the holidays are over. It’s at this point things will be put to the test and I must say the goal of looking as best I can is starting to be very real to me.
Weekly Recap:
Foundational – Weary but good. This week marks the end of another semester of school. Graduation tomorrow, but I still have some work to do. I need to be very truthful about myself in the coming weeks as well as make good courageous and honorable decisions going into the new year.
Business – I am coming to the end of a stage of life here and trying to start a new one. My former career of ministry is done and I need to embrace a new one. Now I just need to find that path. Thankfully I have learned for a long time the importance of work and being industrious. I have learned to work toward being self-reliant and now it is time to gain enough prosperity to be hospitable to those who need it.
Self – Strength needs to be recovered here but I think the path I am on that involves fidelity, discipline and perseverance will help me. The goal in the end is to be a proud Viking soul that is prosperous and strong.
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
Happy Thor’s Day
Introduction:
I suppose a definition is in order. Pagan can be used as both a noun and an adjective and has multiple definitions and means which may or may not apply to everyone who calls themselves a pagan. Pagan or paganism can imply some, most or all of the following:
None of these definitions really work for me I would prefer to understand it with my own definition that kind of reflects a broader definition of pagan:
One who defines their own spirituality and comes to understand that spirituality from the world around them.
Yep, that is me. I mean I don’t really have any belief in special revelation anymore but I do believe that people might have some sound ideas about how the divine works but that is the natural revelation of reason not the divine doing something directly to reveal themselves.
Faith:
When you faith basically consists of believing there is something or someone out there but you don’t believe that we will ever know who or they are. When you believe that the only real means we have to engage the world is yourself, then you begin to have faith only in yourself. to do the things you need to do. If I am going to come to understand the divine reality, then it is going to have to be me that does it. It doesn’t mean that conversation, reading and the opinions of others are not part of that. What it means is like I know that I am the only responsible moral agent for what I do, I also am the only real moral agent in what I believe. The reality is that for every human being there is a faith in something.
Religion:
I don’t completely dismiss religion, I just know what it really is. It men and women’s collective opinions about the divine. I don’t dismiss sacred writing as they might have so accurate observations about what god may be like, I just know they are all the works of men and women and the divine probably has little to do with it. There is a kind of natural revelation as people talk, discuss and write about god but that is all it is. For me the jury is still out of what value religion actually has and it isn’t coming back with an innocent verdict. One thing is for sure for me is that all of that is nothing more than a few more voices in the whole of the discussion for me now.
Theology:
The thing about theology based on natural revelation is that verification of what you discover using reason is not always possible. You start sentences about the divine with ‘If,,,” a lot. The one thing being a pagan means is a lack of being dogmatic about what you believe. Your theology is very open to change and the changes can be quite dynamic. You are open to these changes and in fact I feel a good pagan should embrace them and meditate and think on them. It’s a journey of discovery not a place to make a last stand and die on a hill that may not be worth anything in the end.
Spirituality:
This means a great deal of spirituality as a pagan for me is to be open and relaxed. My deist pagan self tells me that I can be open to let the god of the universe; if they exist, to reveal themselves to me in the world around me. My humanist pagan self can see the ‘divine spark’ in each human being and let that tell me a little about the divine as well. My spirituality is based more on living the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru than it is rituals and creeds. They simply represent a good code to live by in my opinion and ultimately it is my spirituality and no one else’s so I have to guide me to truth as much as possible accepting the guidance of others when it fits. I am The Grey Wayfarer and that is an identity I want to keep the rest of my life.
Conclusion:
We are coming on the pagan celebrations of Yule. Part of my spirituality is the celebration of holidays and some of the divine being revealed in them as I celebrate them. Mostly through the concepts of family and values such as hope and joy. This brings us to the end of the year. What a year it has been!!! Good, bad and ugly it has been a year I will not soon forget. I want to keep walking though, I believe that the best things are still yet to be discovered are around the next bend in the path, over the next hill or across the next valley of life. So I commit myself to the journey.
So I remain,
The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.
Skaal!!!
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